About
Crocus olivieri subsp. balansae is a compact, perennial corm characterized by elongated, slender leaves that are dark green and feature a subtle white central stripe. In late winter to early spring, specifically from February to March, it produces dark orange flowers that are adorned with a bronzy-brown feathering on the exterior of the petals.
About the genus
Crocus are small, deciduous perennials that emerge from corms. They feature narrow leaves, often marked with a silvery stripe down the center. The flowers, which can be fragrant, are goblet-shaped and appear in either autumn or early spring.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H6
Plant details
- Plant type
- Bulbs
- Habit
- Tufted
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- Up to 10 cm
- Spread
- 0-0.1 metre
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Gravel garden, Patio and container plants, Rock garden, Wildlife gardens
- Native to
- Aegean Is. Turkey
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in gritty, well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil in full sun and protect from excessive winter wet. See crocus cultivation for more advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by division of established clumps or by separating cormlets when dormant
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to rodents and birds
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free, corms may rot in storage